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Helianthemum songaricum and H. ordosicum are two shrubs disjunctively distributed in Central Asia and northwestern China. For conservation purposes, we used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of their populations. Based on the GBS data, H. songaricum populations showed considerable genetic differences from H. ordosicum populations. Helianthemum songaricum populations also showed a stronger population genetic structure within the isolated valleys in the Tianshan Mountains than was seen in previous studies. We speculated that the two species may represent two cotemporal migration events between the Middle East and Central Asia/Ordos Plateau since the early Pliocene. Due to the intense uplift of the Tianshan Mountains in the late Pliocene, populations of H. songaricum were isolated in different valleys. Subsequently, the cold glacial climate during the Pleistocene intensified the in situ intraspecific differentiation of the species. Based on our single nucleotide polymorphism data, we propose habitat damage by anthropological activities, where the two species inhabit should be urgently prohibited by executive management. In addition, a nursery for germplasm resources should be urgently set up to culture adequate progenies for the purpose of expanding the populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary palynology in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) was initiated in the 1960s to meet the needs of economic development in western China. Pollen analysis was conducted for the first time on a 200-m long core of Quaternary lacustrine sediments taken from the main body of the TP in order to study pollen assemblages as well as vegetation and climate changes of glacial (cold)/interglacial (warm) periods. Pollen analysis of alpine snow and ice began at the first scientific expedition to the TP in the 1970s. After the 1980s, a series of international collaborative programs were carried out under Sino-French, Sino-German, Sino-Australian, and Sino-American cooperation, marking the integration of Chinese Quaternary palynology society with the international community. New methods for Quaternary palynology were gradually promoted and applied, changing the vegetational and climatic interpretation of Quaternary palynology from qualitative to quantitative. Since the 1990s, many palynologists have carried out extensive Quaternary palynological studies on fossil pollen sites of more than 60 lakes/sections and alpine glaciers in the TP to discuss the spatiotemporal vegetation changes and climatic and environmental evolution of the TP since the Pleistocene. Over the past half-century, Quaternary palynology in the TP has contributed to the establishment of the Chinese Quaternary pollen database and the study of vegetation and climate evolution since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the TP. Currently available pollen records revealed the spatial and temporal distribution of vegetation in the TP since the LGM, exhibiting expansions and shrinkages of forest, meadow, grassland and desert in different periods such as the LGM, the last deglaciation, and Holocene optimum period. The paleomonsoon reflected by paleovegetation since the LGM has undergone the changes of weak-strengthening-strong-weakening but still active-shrinking, which is mainly affected by solar insolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palynological records were selected from the profiles of three research sites in the mountainous interior of southern China (Dajiuhu at Shennongjia in the western part of Hubei Province, Dahu in the Nanling Mountains, and Gantang in the northern part of Fujian Province). It can be inferred that the forest vegetation growing in the south of the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River was luxuriant during the late glaciation. The species succession with ecological significance in palaeoflora ( Abies sp., Fagus sp. and Alnus sp.) revealed that there was a certain amount of precipitation and effective humidity in the mountain lands between Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River and Nanling Mountains. This ecological environment favored the zonal distribution of mountainous forest vegetation. The late glacial maximum featured a cold, wet climate that completely differed from the cold-dry climate on the Loess Plateau, and on the steppe and desert steppe of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Besides being influenced by the predominant factors driving the Northern Hemisphere climate, the cold-wet climate feature of the mountainous interior of southern China was closely associated with some geographical factors such as the latitudinal position, proximity to the ocean, and the topography and landforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-preserved Late Glacial moraines in the Barenduo and Yuqiongqu valleys on the eastern slope of the Samdainkangsang Peak present an opportunity to reconstruct glacier extents and examine the character of the climate during the Late Glacial stage in the Nyaiqentanggulha Mountains. This study employs a coupled mass-balance and ice-flow model to reconstruct the glacier extents in the two valleys and assess the magnitudes of temperature and precipitation change during the Late Glacial period. Model results indicate that during the Late Glacial, the Barenduo valley contained an ice volume of 1.67×108 m3, with the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) being ~5500 m asl; and the Yuqiongqu valley had an ice volume of 5.56×108 m3, with the ELA being ~5470 m asl. A climate scenario, temperature depression of 2.6-2.8°C and 60-70%, percent of modern (1981-2010) precipitation, can sustain both of the Late Glacial glacier extents in the two valleys. A 50% increase or decrease from modern precipitation would have been coupled with the respective Late Glacial temperature depressions of 1.6 and 3.0°C in the Barenduo valley, and 2.1 and 2.8°C in the Yuqiongqu valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the climate fluctuation record from the Salawusu River Valley in China during the early last glacial. The study also investigated whether these fluctuations were similar to the Dansgaard-Oeschger events recorded in the polar ice cores and stalagmites during the period. A description of the study area and methods is provided. Also discussed are the details of the findings.

Based on observations of the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountain, we established a statistical model between ELA and its major influencing factors, warm season air temperature (air temperature averages for September, July and August) and cold season precipitation (total precipitation in the period January through March). Warm season air temperature was the leading climatic factor influencing ELA variations. The glacier ELA ascends (descends) 172 m when warm season air temperature increases (decreases) by 1°C, and ascends (descends) 62 m when cold season precipitation decreases (increases) by 10%. In the period 1958-2008, the glacier ELA showed a general increasing trend, ascending 230 m and reaching its highest altitude in 2006 at 5131 m a.s.l., close to the glacier summit. If future climate is similar to that in the period 2001-2008, the Qiyi Glacier will not stabilize until it retreats by 2.08 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17.81 m sediment core from Lake Naleng, a freshwater lake in the south-eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau was examined for its non-pollen palynomorph (NPP) composition. The frequencies of 15 NPPs and three aquatic pollen types were determined in 160 samples. Since the origin of several NPP types is still unknown, multivariate analysis, supported by findings from the corresponding fossil pollen flora, was carried out to extract information about their ecological environments. The analysis allowed a classification of all microfossils in four groups of environmental response, which provided an approach to tracing lake history and palaeoclimatic changes in the area since the Late Glacial (since 17,700 cal years b.p.). Unstable lake conditions and a low organic productivity were reconstructed for the Late Glacial before 14,600 cal years b.p. with high inputs of terrestrial material. Climate conditions became wetter during the Bølling/Allerød interval indicated by high productivity in the lake. After a short climate deterioration (12,500-11,500 cal years b.p.), stable lake conditions were inferred from the record. During the late Holocene (since 2,700 cal years b.p.) changes in the NPP composition might be related to human impact, the latter being inferred from the pollen data through the presence of grazing indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The height of mountain ranges reflects the balance between tectonic rock uplift, crustal strength and surface denudation. Tectonic deformation and surface denudation are interdependent, however, and feedback mechanisms—in particular, the potential link to climate—are subjects of intense debate. Spatial variations in fluvial denudation rate caused by precipitation gradients are known to provide first-order controls on mountain range width, crustal deformation rates and rock uplift. Moreover, limits to crustal strength are thought to constrain the maximum elevation of large continental plateaus, such as those in Tibet and the central Andes. There are indications that the general height of mountain ranges is also directly influenced by the extent of glaciation through an efficient denudation mechanism known as the glacial buzzsaw. Here we use a global analysis of topography and show that variations in maximum mountain height correlate closely with climate-controlled gradients in snowline altitude for many high mountain ranges across orogenic ages and tectonic styles. With the aid of a numerical model, we further demonstrate how a combination of erosional destruction of topography above the snowline by glacier-sliding and commensurate isostatic landscape uplift caused by erosional unloading can explain observations of maximum mountain height by driving elevations towards an altitude window just below the snowline. The model thereby self-consistently produces the hypsometric signature of the glacial buzzsaw, and suggests that differences in the height of mountain ranges mainly reflect variations in local climate rather than tectonic forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kaigas, Sturtian, Marinoan, and Gaskiers glaciations are widely recognized in Neoproterozoic. However, in the South China Block only the Jiangkou (Sturtian) and Nantuo (Marinoan) are symbolized by sedimentary records. The Kaigas, recorded by isotopic and chemical proxies, exhibited likely the nature of cold paleoclimate with local mountain glaciation. The correlation of the Doushantuo Formation with the Gaskiers is indicated by the carbon isotope excursion and the dated age from the interval, however the South China Block was then under non-glacial weather. With no paleomagnetic data, the position of the South China Block during the Sturtian glaciation cannot be determined. The paleolatitudes of the South China Block during the Kaigas and Nantuo glaciations are intermediate, even though the Nantuo was once rendered erratically deduced equatorial. In fact, the paleolatitudes of the South China Block during the Neoproterozoic glaciations are all likely at about 30° -40°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution speleothem records from China have provided insights into the factors that control the strength of the East Asian monsoon. Our understanding of these factors remains incomplete, however, owing to gaps in the record of monsoon history over the past two interglacial–glacial cycles. In particular, missing sections have hampered our ability to test ideas about orbital-scale controls on the monsoon, the causes of millennial-scale events and relationships between changes in the monsoon and climate in other regions. Here we present an absolute-dated oxygen isotope record from Sanbao cave, central China, that completes a Chinese-cave-based record of the strength of the East Asian monsoon that covers the past 224,000 years. The record is dominated by 23,000-year-long cycles that are synchronous within dating errors with summer insolation at 65° N (ref. 10), supporting the idea that tropical/subtropical monsoons respond dominantly and directly to changes in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation on orbital timescales. The cycles are punctuated by millennial-scale strong-summer-monsoon events (Chinese interstadials), and the new record allows us to identify the complete series of these events over the past two interglacial–glacial cycles. Their duration decreases and their frequency increases during glacial build-up in both the last and penultimate glacial periods, indicating that ice sheet size affects their character and pacing. The ages of the events are exceptionally well constrained and may thus serve as benchmarks for correlating and calibrating climate records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guxiang and Baiyu Glaciations are two previously recognized local glaciations of the Tibetan Plateau. They have been widely used as the reference standard for classifying Late Quaternary glaciations on the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding mountains. However, the numerical chronologies of both glaciations have been lacking. In this study, cosmogenic 10Be dating was undertaken to define the timing of these two glaciations. The surface boulders deposited by the glaciers of the Guxiang and Baiyu Glaciations have exposure ages of 112.9±16.7-136.5±1 5.8 ka BP and 11.1±1.9-18.5±2.2 ka BP, respectively. It is likely that the Guxiang and Baiyu Glaciations correspond to marine isotope stages 6 and 2,' respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, nine sediment sequences in the inner desert, desert-loess transitional zone (agro-pastoral transitional zone) and the northern margin of the Loess Plateau were investigated to study the sediments of Mu Us (Maowusu) and Otindaq (Hunshandake) sandy land in northern China since the last glaciation. All of these sequences consisted of the upper Holocene dark paleosol and the lower aeolian sand formed during the last glacial stage. The Mu Us and Otindaq sandy land became the active desert since the last glaciation and covered a larger sandy area than at present. Mu Us sandy land began to show a landform of sandy desert and expanded southward towards the northern boundaries of the Loess Plateau. The Holocene was characterized by the advent of warmer and wetter climatic conditions in northern China, resulting in the rapid growth of surface vegetation and Mu Us and Otindaq sandy land became a steppe. The thickness of surface soil reached up to as much as 50–80 cm. Thick paleosol covered the drift sands, and served as a protective layer for the steppe and farmland. Although the last glacial cycle is far away, paleo-aeolian sands formed during that period are still the material sources of regional desertification. Unreasonable cultivation destroying the Holocene paleosol, combined with dry climate and strong wind would result in activation of paleo-aeolian sand leading to the desertification of the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-resolution loess section in the western Chinese Loess Plateau, Yuanbao Section, was sampled for organic carbon isotopic analyses. The soil organic carbon isotope (δ Corg) varied between -22.6‰ and -27.5‰ during the last glacial at the section. During the last interstadial, the δ Corg values were more negative than those in both early and late periods of the last glacial by 4‰. The isotopic composition indicates a coupled response of the pure C3 plants to the temperature, precipitation and the concentration of atmospheric CO2. Decrease in temperature and the atmospheric CO2 concentration from the last interstadial to Last Glaicial Maximum (LGM) caused the organic carbon isotopes to become positive by 1.5‰ 2.0‰. The amplitude of 4‰ in the δ Corg variation during the last glacial should be mainly caused by the precipitation change. Therefore, the δ Corg variations of the Yuanbao Section during the last glacial period documented the large-amplitude fluctuation of the monsoon precipitation, which is estimated to be 250-310 mm more during the last interstadial than that in the LGM, and 100 mm more than that during early last glacial. The rapid changes of the monsoon precipitation on millennial scale during the last glacial have also been recorded in the isotopic variations in Yuanbao loess section. As the isotopic composition varies complicatedly as shown in the loess-paleosol sequence, it cannot be simply attributed to the abundances of C3 and C4 plants or be used as an indicator of the summer monsoon variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Atmosphere-Vegetation Interaction Model (AVIM), the magnitude and spatial distribution of terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP) in China is simulated during three different geological eras, Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Mid-Holocene (MH) and the present. The simulation shows that the glacial-interglacial variation of East Asian summer monsoon in China is the key factor affecting the NPP change. During the three eras, mean NPPs are 208 g/m²·a, 409 g/m²·a, and 355 g/m²·a. The total NPPs are 2.05 Pg/a, 3.89 Pg/a and 3.33 Pg/a, respectively. The terrestrial NPP in China during warm-humid climate is larger than that during cold-arid eras, and the correlation analysis between NPP and climate factors suggests that temperature is the primary factor affecting the terrestrial NPP during 21 kaBP (LGM), and for 6 kaBP (MH) and the present the primary factor is precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain-size distributions of the reticulate red clay in Xuancheng, Anhui Province, and Jiujiang, Taihe and Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, are analyzed. The results are as follows: (I) Generally fine and uniform, grain-size characteristics of the reticulate red clay in Xuancheng and Jiujiang are much similar, with no >2 mm gravels, 0.30% and 1.14% of >63 μm fraction on average, respectively, and 34.65 % and 37.20% of 10–50 μm fraction, which is apparently accumulated. The patterns of the grain-size distribution curves of the uppermost yellow-brown earth of the profiles in the two areas much resemble those of the loess in northern China and the Xiashu loess in southeastern China, while the patterns of the other layers also apparently show some attributes inherited from the above. The grain-size distribution patterns of the quartz separated from the whole profiles in the areas are almost identical, which could also be compared with those of the loess and the Xiashu loess. All the features above reveal aeolian characteristics of the reticulated red clay in these two areas. (2) The reticulate red clay in Taihe and Ganzhou is much coarser than that in Xuancheng and Jiujiang, with high content of >63 μm fraction and relatively low content of 10–50 μm fraction. The variations in grain-size distributions of the profiles are also observed. The grain-size distribution patterns of both the original samples and the quartz of the red clay could hardly be compared with those of the loess and the Xiashu loess. All the features above reveal their alluvial or diluvial origins. (3) The multiple origins of the reticulate red clay in the areas reflect the diversity and complexity of the Quaternary environment in southern China. The existence of the reticulate red clay with aeolian characteristics brings forth objective evidence for the occurrence of large-scale dust deposition in southern China during the Quaternary glacial periods. Further investigation and study on the regional distribution of this kind of the red clay will be conducive to revealing the southern border of the large-scale dust deposition in southern China during the Quaternary glacial periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which measures the total Fe content in two parallel sections from the central Loess Plateau (Xifeng and Changwu). Consideration of the variations of eolian iron in the past 900 ka.; How the obtained timeseries indicate that Fet values in some glacial intervals are comparable to that of interglacial periods and its oscillations do not change; Reference to how it exhibits higher frequency fluctuations without detectable 100 ka period; Combination of 20 ka and 40 ka periods which suggests that eolian iron content was relatively independent of glacial-interglacial changes, but more strongly influenced by the insolation changes in the northern hemisphere; How a higher iron content was observed for the S5-1 soil; Findings from marine records that this stage is characterized by higher values to suggest that the event is of global significance.

A 14.6 m long profile from the northern part of the Hulun lake, the furthest north of the large lakes of China, has provided a sedimentary and diatom record since the late Glacial. The chronological sequence was established based on 10 radiocarbon dates. Sedimentological study and diatom analysis are synthesized for the reconstruction of the history of lake-level changes. The results show that the Hulun basin was not occupied by a lake during the Last Glaciation. A rapid transition to a deep lake occurred since 12 850 yr B.P., and this high level phase lasted to 11 200 yr B.P., although there existed several subordinate lake level fluctuations. An abrupt lake level drop and dry climatic conditions occurred during 11 200–10 600 yr B.P. The lake became deeper again from 10 600 yr B.P. to 10 300 yr B.P. Hulun lake at the early Holocene was characterized by the low lake-level, and the lake level rose again in 7200–5800 yr B.P., though the lake-levels changed quite variably. A dry condition occurred and lake level declined again during 5800–3000 yr B.P. The presence of the palaeosol on the top of this profile indicates the persistence of low lake levels after 3000 yr B.P. The comparison with the other lake-level records from northern China has suggested that the Hulun Lake shows a different lake level history from the lakes in monsoon areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the establishment of a glacial stalagmite chronology from Nanjing by the IMS-U series dating and annual band counting methods. Analysis of the annually layering sequence spanning the 3000-year period from 18179 to 14900 calendar years before the present (aBP); Evidence of East Asian summer monsoon precipitation variability during the Last Glacial Maximum.

Deals with a study on the two-step character of the last deglaciation recorded in tropical Maar Lake Huguangyan, China. Indications that the geographical extent and character of climactic oscillations of the last deglaciation are not well known; Materials and methods; Results and reconstruction of paleoclimate; Conclusion of the study.

Presents information on a study which used geological data from Chinese lake status database to reconstruct the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) climate from China. Overview of the lake status data for the LGM; Methods used in the study; Lake-status based reconstruction of the LGM climate; Paleoclimate simulations on precipitation and precipitation-evaporation.

Discusses a study which investigated the loess section of Zhaitang, Beijing, China and identified a weakly developed paleosol at the transition from the last interglacial to the last glacial which represent the warming reversal at the last interglacial-last glacial transition (LILGT). Evidence of the climatic reversal at the LILGT; Correlation of LILGT.

Focuses on climate variation over the last interglacial period recorded in the lake carbonate deposit of eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, with reference to a study conducted. Methodology used to conduct the study; Results of the study.

Changes in velocity and temperature of ice are the internal driving factors accelerating glacial regression under the condition of climatic warming. To evaluate glacial response to climate from the perspective of the internal driving forces of glaciers, we used a two-dimensional force balance and energy balance model to simulate the ice velocity and temperature of the No. 8 glacier (H8) in Tianshan Mountains, China. We analyzed the influence of dynamic characteristics caused by climatic warming on glacial changes. The simulation results of ice velocity showed: when the atmospheric temperature changed by 2 °C, the maximum velocity increased from 9 to 20 ma−1, and the total average ice velocity increased from − 9.2 to − 6.9 °C. Apparently, climatic warming could lead to an increase in ice flux. In addition, to analyze the effect of velocity increment on glacial changes, we set the difference mass balance to simulate the glacier change in the future. And the results showed that climatic warming would increase the glacial area in terminus in a short period of time and weaken the ice reserves at upstream. Under the condition of continuous climatic warming, it would accelerate the loss of glacial area and ice reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]